Emily Oslie
School: Seattle Pacific University
Hometown: Salem, Ore.
Year: Junior
Position: Opposite Hitter
Notes:
-Oslie didn’t take up volleyball until she was in eighth grade, but then made her high school varsity team as a freshman.
FCA Staff Quote:
“Emily is passionate about Jesus and that has overflown to her teammates at Seattle Pacific University. She has a true servant’s heart impacting her team and pouring into the lives of high school athletes at FCA Camp.”
– Scott Cooper
Vice President of Field Ministries
Pacific Northwest Region
Originally Published: July 2012
“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.” – Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT)
In her first experience as an FCA Camp Huddle Leader, Seattle Pacific University junior Emily Oslie experienced a transformation of faith as she learned how to bring Christ into her game. The lessons she learned that summer quickly spilled over into the rest of her life as well. Now the Salem, Ore., native is taking her Christ-centered perspective and allowing it to guide her in the role of upperclassman on the court and Christian leader in the locker room.
FCA: What did you learn through being a reserve player in your first two seasons?
EO: God taught me about putting the needs of the team above my personal goals and accomplishments. My goal was to contribute on the court, but I knew that the girls ahead of me were helping the team more than I could.
I also learned to be patient and wait for my time to come. God has a plan for me, and part of that plan has included two shoulder surgeries in the last five years. I’m still seeing His plan come together as I train for this season and look forward to more time on the court.
FCA: How have you seen God’s plan take shape through those surgeries?
EO: I always had plans to play volleyball at a D-I school like Stanford, USC or UCLA, but at the end of my sophomore year of high school I had a shoulder surgery that knocked me off the recruiting radar. I wasn’t sure what my future held, but I explored other schools and found Seattle Pacific University: a Christian school with an awesome volleyball program.
This year I underwent another shoulder surgery, and it’s taken a lot of faith to give my athletic future to God. As my favorite Bible verse, Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT), says, “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.” That verse resonates with me because His unfailing love has always strengthened me in tough times.
FCA: How has your faith grown through FCA?
EO: In 2011, one of my roommates asked if I would be interested in going to the Northwest Idaho FCA Sports Camp in Nampa, Idaho. I accepted, not knowing that I’d be a Huddle Leader with some of the volleyball girls. It turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I met a lot of mentors and strong Christian friends who led me into a stronger relationship with God as I was helping my camp girls do the same.
FCA: How have you brought what you experienced at FCA Camp back to your team?
EO: FCA Camp taught me what it meant to be a Christian athlete and how to apply Christian principles to how I played on the court. And, outside the gym, it’s also given me the skills to initiate conversations about my faith, which is something I do every chance I get.
FCA does a great job teaching both athletic skills and important life lessons. As a society we tend to separate God from many aspects of our lives, but FCA shows that you can be a strong Christian athlete, practice your faith and do very well at your sport, all while bringing glory to God.
Photo courtesy of Emily Oslie